“I feel very relieved and energized,” Goodwin said. “... There was a readiness for a fresh approach.”

Goodwin, a Republican who previously served on the Fort Walton Beach City Council, said local voters repeatedly told him they wanted to see changes.

“It didn’t matter if I was walking in Mary Esther or Fort Walton Beach or Crestview or Niceville, the response was the same – ‘We want better government in Okaloosa County,’” he said.

Amunds, who has served as a commissioner since 2004, said he couldn’t pinpoint a reason for his defeat.

“I wish Okaloosa the best,” he said. “The citizens voted.”

Kelley said he appreciates his supporters and hopes the new board works quickly to solve the county’s infrastructure issues.

Goodwin outspent both of his opponents. He raised about $84,414 while Amunds collected $74,845 from donors. Kelly raised $20,000 in campaign contributions, according to Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections records.

Goodwin’s win comes on the heels of a steady flow of negative advertising aimed at Amunds and bankrolled by political action committees established by or with ties to state Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz was outspoken about his intention to rid the county commission of incumbents – officials he sees as having never been held accountable for the 2012 Mark Bellinger fraud scandal.

Goodwin will join Carolyn Ketchel, who will occupy the District 2 seat, on the board in November.

The newly comprised commission faces several challenges such as mounting storm water needs and could be the first officials to spend RESTORE Act money stemming from the 2010 BP oil spill.

“We’ve got to hire a new county administrator,” Goodwin said. “That’s a big deal.”

KEYS TO SUCCESS: Negative advertising coupled with a healthy dose of incumbent burnout tilted this contest in Trey Goodwin’s favor.

Among voters there was a lingering frustration over the 2012 Mark Bellinger fraud scandal that cost Okaloosa County millions in tax dollars.

Goodwin capitalized on the frustration by pointing out that Don Amunds served on the commission at the time. His claims were aided by full-color mailings from political committees with ties to state Rep. Matt Gaetz, who made public his goal of clearing the county commission of incumbents.

“The time has come for the era of scandals to be over and for the era of community building and solutions to begin,” he said.

Goodwin’s hands-on approach to campaigning won him the race, he said.

“He’s been going door to door, looking people in the eye and convincing them he would look out for their money,” Gaetz said. “I think it was not just his message but his method. He looked people in the eye. This is the type of community where that really matters.”

Gaetz, who openly campaigned against Amunds, said Goodwin’s win is the accountability he’s been seeking since the Mark Bellinger fraud scandal of 2012.

“The county commission never fired a single person,” he said. “... Tonight some heads rolled.”

“I feel very relieved and energized,” Goodwin said. “... There was a readiness for a fresh approach.”

Goodwin, a Republican who previously served on the Fort Walton Beach City Council, said local voters repeatedly told him they wanted to see changes.

“It didn’t matter if I was walking in Mary Esther or Fort Walton Beach or Crestview or Niceville, the response was the same – ‘We want better government in Okaloosa County,’” he said.

Amunds, who has served as a commissioner since 2004, said he couldn’t pinpoint a reason for his defeat.

“I wish Okaloosa the best,” he said. “The citizens voted.”

Kelley said he appreciates his supporters and hopes the new board works quickly to solve the county’s infrastructure issues.

Goodwin outspent both of his opponents. He raised about $84,414 while Amunds collected $74,845 from donors. Kelly raised $20,000 in campaign contributions, according to Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections records.

Goodwin’s win comes on the heels of a steady flow of negative advertising aimed at Amunds and bankrolled by political action committees established by or with ties to state Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz was outspoken about his intention to rid the county commission of incumbents – officials he sees as having never been held accountable for the 2012 Mark Bellinger fraud scandal.

Goodwin will join Carolyn Ketchel, who will occupy the District 2 seat, on the board in November.

The newly comprised commission faces several challenges such as mounting storm water needs and could be the first officials to spend RESTORE Act money stemming from the 2010 BP oil spill.

“We’ve got to hire a new county administrator,” Goodwin said. “That’s a big deal.”

KEYS TO SUCCESS: Negative advertising coupled with a healthy dose of incumbent burnout tilted this contest in Trey Goodwin’s favor.

Among voters there was a lingering frustration over the 2012 Mark Bellinger fraud scandal that cost Okaloosa County millions in tax dollars.

Goodwin capitalized on the frustration by pointing out that Don Amunds served on the commission at the time. His claims were aided by full-color mailings from political committees with ties to state Rep. Matt Gaetz, who made public his goal of clearing the county commission of incumbents.

“The time has come for the era of scandals to be over and for the era of community building and solutions to begin,” he said.

Goodwin’s hands-on approach to campaigning won him the race, he said.

“He’s been going door to door, looking people in the eye and convincing them he would look out for their money,” Gaetz said. “I think it was not just his message but his method. He looked people in the eye. This is the type of community where that really matters.”

Gaetz, who openly campaigned against Amunds, said Goodwin’s win is the accountability he’s been seeking since the Mark Bellinger fraud scandal of 2012.

“The county commission never fired a single person,” he said. “... Tonight some heads rolled.”